By Ryn Gargulinski: QCS With products that include marijuana-flavored lollipops and the Japanese-made Kidsbeer, a soft drink that mimics the real thing and is advertised with the slogan “Even kids cannot stand life unless they have a drink,” it may be no wonder drug abuse starts early. The New Mexico Department of Health reports that, […]

By Ryn Gargulinski: QCS Musician Jared Young said he is from a small town and adores small towns, though he never wrote a song about small towns. “I think John Cougar (Mellencamp) did it best,” he laughed. But that does not bar Young from putting small towns on the list of stops during his tour. […]

By Ryn Gargulinski: QCS Tucumcari resident Paula Wakefield said she knows what it’s like to be homeless — her family’s house burned to the ground in 1966. And that’s why she wants to help evacuees hit by Hurricane Katrina or Rita by calling all local homeowners who have houses sitting vacant, but livable, in town. […]

By Ryn Gargulinski: QCS Thank God It’s Friday. The old adage is also the name of a new program offered at First Christian Church for students who no longer have school on Fridays. Comprised of students in kindergarten through fifth grade, the program runs from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays when no classes […]

By Ryn Gargulinski: QCS Canadian Snowbird pilot Maj. Cory Blakely said his fondest air show memory is not dipping or flipping or diving high speed, but a moment in Reno, Nev., two weeks ago, when he was signing autographs after the performance and a little boy grabbed his arm. “He hugged my arm like a […]

The following is a sampling of calls received by Tucumcari police during the past several days. According to the reports: Friday • At 12:26 p.m., a male reported vandalism at a local car wash. Police arrived to find a hose was slashed and a sprayer wand taken. • At 1:48 p.m., a female called to […]

CQS staff A Louisiana man died early Monday morning in a one-vehicle rollover about 35 miles west of Tucumari on Interstate 40. Officials said a gray, 1994 van driven by James Williams was traveling westbound on I-40 when the rear tire on the passenger side broke, causing the tire and hub to shoot off the […]

By Paul Lyon: QCS staff The Tucumcari Rattlers remain undefeated after a Friday night trounce over the host Loving Falcons. Tucumcari won 49-0. The Rattlers are 5-0. Loving is 0-4. All-state running back Eric Holt led the team as usual, rushing for more than 150 yards by halftime. He finished with 184 yards on the […]

By Ryn Gargulinski: QCS Managing Editor Kids are wonderful. They rollick, they frolic, they spit up on your chest. I’m in the category of those who think children are giggly and grand – as long as they are somebody else’s. Now don’t get me wrong, I’ll be the first one in the supermarket line to […]

Fiction True Betrayals by Nora Roberts. Kelsey is shocked to learn that her mother — whom she had assumed was dead — has really been in prison all these years for killing her lover. Hunting Fear by Kay Hooper. An extraordinary psychic comes upon a madman out to win a sick game. Exact Revenge by […]